Protect yourself from online scams
Please be aware that some fake Facebook pages are pretending to be Anglicare WA.
Scammers may pretend to be a real organisation to trick people into sharing personal information or money. We want you to know how to spot a scam, what to do, and how to reach us if something doesn't feel right.
Anglicare WA will never ask for your password, login details or banking details via SMS, email or social media.
Need help? Reach out to us directly on 1300 11 44 46 or visit anglicarewa.org.au.
How scammers may use our name
Scammers can be convincing. They may contact you pretending to be from Anglicare WA or you may come across a fake online account with a similar name or logo. This can happen through:
- Social media messages or fake profiles (e.g. Facebook or Instagram)
- Fake websites or online forms
- Phone calls or voicemails
- Emails or text messages
If anyone asks you for bank card details, your myGov login or any login passwords over social media, email or SMS, do not reply. It is likely a scam.
How to spot a scam
Worried it's a scam? If you see a page or get a message that feels odd or makes you unsure, please don’t click on any links or share your details.
- Stop and look closely. Take your time to look closely at the message you've received or the social media account you're on.
- Read the checklist below for common signs of a scam.
- If you're unsure, call us on 1300 11 44 46 and we can check for you.
Click each item below to expand the description.
Be careful if someone asks for any bank card details, passwords, Medicare or myGov number, or similarly private information. Scammers may try to:
- Contact you on social media
- Ask for bank card details including your bank login or password
- Ask for identity documents and service logins, like your Medicare card details or Centrelink reference number
- Ask you to download a software
- Ask you to transfer money
- Ask you to set up a bank account with a specific bank
- Ask you to click on strange looking links
- Send emails from strange or unprofessional email addresses
For security purposes, Anglicare WA will never ask for your sensitive information directly through social media, email or text messages.
If you receive any message asking you to respond with your sensitive information or bank details, this is likely a scam.
Scammers will often push you to act quickly so you don't have time to think things through.
They might do this by sounding urgent or scary and make you panic into putting through a payment, clicking a link, or share your personal details.
Watch out for words like:
- "Urgent"
- "Immediate action required"
- "As soon as possible" or "ASAP"
- "Final notice" (even though you haven't received any other notice before)
Remember, there's no hurry to respond. When dealing with a likely scammer, the best action is usually inaction.
Scammers will often try to copy the name and look of a real and trusted organisation to seem legitimate. Look closely for details such as odd or improper logos and account names, incorrect spellings, unprofessional manners or strange email addresses or website URLs.
If it doesn’t come from our official website or trusted partner, it’s likely not from us.
Scammers may reach out with the promise of sudden rewards such as cash prizes or free money. Once you respond they may then ask for your personal information in order for them to send you your prize money. This is a scam.
Anglicare WA does not make promises like free money or prizes through social media.
If an organisation reaches out to you unexpectedly, it's worth a second look.
If something doesn't feel right, don't respond. Look up the organisation's official contact details yourself and call them directly.
For Anglicare WA, you can find all our official contact details on our Contact Us page or Location Directory.
What to do if you think you've been scammed
If you think someone has used Anglicare WA's name to scam you, or if you've shared personal or financial information with someone you're no longer sure about:
- Stop all contact with the suspected scammer.
- Talk to someone you trust if something doesn't feel right.
- Contact your bank. If you've shared any bank details, call your bank straight away.
- Protect your personal information. If you've shared any personal details like your myGov login, change your passwords and call the Services Australia Scams and Identity Theft Helpdesk for next steps.
- Report it to us. Let us know so we can investigate further and warn others.
